Jump Start Therapy CIC was founded in 2023 by Amie and Catherine, after recognising the need for specialist gymnastics sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in their local area (near Shepton Mallet & Frome, Somerset).

Our Mission

At Jump Start Therapy cic, we celebrate individuality. Our mission is to help children grow in confidence, build new skills, and most importantly — have fun together in a supportive community.

We believe every child deserves the opportunity to move, play, and thrive. Based near Bath in the Mendips, we use gymnastics-based activities to promote child development, with a special focus on supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who are unable to access mainstream classes. By combining gymnastics skills with occupational therapy principles, we create inclusive, accessible sessions that develop physical and social skills, build confidence, and support the abilities children need in everyday life—all while keeping our costs in line with mainstream provision so that no family is priced out of participation.

Amie Hood, Co-founder & Director.

Amie is the driving force behind Jump Start Therapy—bringing energy, creativity, and big ideas to everything we do. As the face of Jump Start, Amie plans and delivers all sessions, working directly with children and families each week. As a qualified Occupational Therapist with a Postgraduate Certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI), qualified Rebound Therapist, and experienced gymnastics and trampoline coach, Amie uniquely combines her expertise to create sessions that truly make a difference.

This year marks 20 years since Amie qualified as an OT, a career path she chose because she wanted to enable people to live with purpose and quality. She has extensive experience working within the NHS, supporting adults with long-term conditions in both hospital and community settings. Her move into working with children came through specialist schools and colleges, and later private practice, where she discovered her passion for combining her OT expertise with her gymnastics background. This breadth of experience across different demographics has given her a deep understanding of how to adapt support for each individual's needs.

Amie's own background as an elite gymnast, competing nationally as a child, fuels her passion for using gymnastics-based activities to develop skills and confidence. At the heart of her approach is kindness and a consent-based philosophy—she never forces anyone to try a skill they're not comfortable with, instead creating a safe space where children can grow at their own pace and discover what they're capable of.